hey bekkyboo7 things to consider with aluminum doors and windows, they have lower maintenance and better weather seals..... in saying that the color is a big consideration, white is great although i generally use anodised silver, this way it often blends with the backgrounds better depending on your outlooks and views as well as it is very neutral against furnishings and coloured feature walls. anodized is a much nicer finish than powder coating as well as it has no sheen to it and looks "softer" its my design you have in the photo attached to this conversation cheers adrian

A sliding door is just a big window, and if correctly built in (check if the glass is the correct sized for the door if a bit old) with the correct sized lintels this should not be a big problem as the loads would be transferred to the sides, allowing the door to slide easily. Silicon spray (being a Yachtie were we use this stuff everywhere), we now use silicone spray on all our windows in our 1930 home and the windows glide across with one finger before they used to tilt when trying to open them. I would place the door head up to line up with the others and one thing you might consider is placing a window seat, (rebate the bottom channels into the window seat) and have the window seat in and out, place a cushion over the entire seat, should be fantastic and if the deck is built, than no balustrade is required. If it is a stacker slider, i would do the seat for the entire length. So instead of looking a bit funny they will think it was supposed to be like that. We should all think outside the square more often. RAM

@Wuff good to hear. We've settled on the stacker doors for those same reasons, for the project. Have bifolds at current house & I like them but at time of installation approx. 8 yrs ago we wanted them to fold inwards so we could screen them, oh no never heard of that, can't do that (they said). Of course now that's all possible, consequently rarely are they opened fully. At least we have a fixed/opening door on one side of the bifold set & also another single security screened door at the back of the house as a main entry point that we leave open all day.

I don't have stacker doors, I am too far south and want an airtight seal. We are doing Binq slider which are 2400 high and around 4 mtr long - only opening one side. I can have it open to the middle or the kitchen though. And we will have a large window where the living room is as I want a cosy winter nook. But of course our living window can open for breeze too and will be about 2mtr wide at least. From what you guys are saying opening to the middle of the extension is preferable! I guess as I am the cook standing about I was thinking of myself with a pleasant breeze blowing around me as I stir my pot. ;-)